Many people seem to be obsessed with natural stone and forget the advantages of ceramic tile. Ceramic, even though it appears to be less lavish, can actually be sculpted to look like various types of stone finishes, achieving the look without spending a lot of money. Another good thing about ceramic tiles is that unlike some types of natural stone, it's more resistant to moisture. This is particularly good in places like the kitchen, where water or spills are commonplace. There is but one little thing you should consider: like most floors, ceramic tile floors can get dirty over time if not properly cared for.

Our latest client had installed a beautiful ceramic tile floor in his kitchen a few years ago, but he was now having trouble. The tiles had become dirty. Despite using many cleaning methods and products, he couldn't restore the floor to its former appearance. Since his tiles were quite texturized, grime had seeped into them. The grout lines were also discolored and in poor shape. Concerned, the homeowner decided to look for a grout cleaning company in Tolland, CT that could help him achieve what he wasn't able to do by his own means.

Because of its convenience, this homeowner trusted finding a high-quality hard surface restoration company by surfing the web and looking at the most recommended results in search engines. That was how he managed to stumble upon Sir Grout Hartford's website. While checking our galleries, he was thrilled to find we had a lot of experience restoring ceramic tile floors. The testimonials and reviews were the cherry on top that prompted him pick up the phone and call to set up an appointment for a free in-home assessment.

On the day of the evaluation, our techs arrived at the customer's residence early in the morning. After they were enthusiastically greeted by the client, they were led to the kitchen to inspect the floor. The ceramic seemed to have a layer of dirt covering its surface, especially the small holes and indentations forming the tumbled texture of the ceramic. To remove the grime, clean the grout, and leave everything looking like a brand-new installation, our tech proposed Sir Grout Hartford's flagship tile and grout cleaning and sealing service. Trusting our tech's expertise, our client agreed to the service and scheduled a date for the job.

On the day stipulated for the job, our team of technicians returned to the customer's home to work swiftly on restoring that once beautiful floor. They first started by spraying the floor with pH-neutral cleaner and let it sit for a while to stir up the grime buildup. This cleaner also contains antimicrobial agents that inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms for up to one week after it has been applied. Once the cleaner had effectively broken up the grime in the grout and tiles, our team then used a high-speed scrubbing machine to remove the dirt from the whole surface. For really difficult spots, and to kill any possible appearance of mold or mildew, our techs also used a steam cleaner.

With the tiles and grout finally looking impeccable, our techs then worked on making those results last longer by using two of our own proprietary products for sealing grout and tiles. To seal the grout and make it impervious to water, stains, and mold, our techs used ColorSeal, which has the added benefit of helping to recolor or even bring out the color of grout. For the tiles, our techs used our TileArmor, which fills the pores on the ceramic tile and protects it against spills. Both sealing procedures also made the floor easier to clean.

The change was quite noticeable, and this homeowner was certainly satisfied with the results. He inspected the tiles and the grout meticulously before smiling and thanking the team for a job well done. He said he would definitely recommend us to his friends and to call again once his floor needed maintenance.

Prior to leaving, our techs gave the client some maintenance tips. Cleaning ceramic tile floors can be a breeze compared to natural stone because you don't need to be as careful with the type of cleaner you use. However, homeowners should still use proper cleaning methods to avoid any accumulation of dirt on the surface. For this reason, our crew recommended the client to forgo all detergents that have soap as their main component, because soap tends to leave a sticky layer that attracts more dirt than it combats. They suggested using a pH-neutral cleaning solution like Sir Grout's Natural Hard Surface Cleaner instead. This cleaner is specially made for high-traffic areas that are subject to spills and other external agents.

Are your grout lines and tiles dingy? Leave it to a professional team of hard surface restoration experts. Sir Grout Hartford has the necessary tools and expertise to get your hard surfaces back in shape. Call us at (860) 781-6480 or fill out the "Request a Quote" form on this page to set up a free in-home assessment. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter if you want to keep up with our latest news and promotions.

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